Firefighters Find Burned Body In Detroit Home

Home on Washburn where Detroit firefighters found a burned body that was missing its legs. (WWJ Photo/Ron Dewey)

DETROIT (WWJ) – Firefighters responding to a home on Detroit’s west side Thursday morning discovered the burned body of a young person in the basement.

As WWJ’s Ron Dewey reports, crews began battling the blaze in a two-story house on Washburn Street, near Lyndon, just after 3 a.m. and ended up in the basement after one firefighter fell through the floor. He suffered injuries to his ribs and back after falling nearly 10 feet and was taken to an area hospital.

While firefighters were in the basement, they discovered a body that was so badly burned that investigators can’t determine the age, other than to say it was possibly a young adult male. The body was originally reported as legless, but upon further inspection investigators say the legs were just tucked under the body.

It is unclear whether the home was abandoned or occupied at the time of the fire, but it appears to have an illegal power hookup.

Arson investigators are working the scene to determine if the fire was deliberately set, while police are canvassing the neighborhood for clues or witnesses.

Investigators are also trying to determine if a pair of shell casings discovered in front of the house are in connection to the fire.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.

Ron Dewey

WWJ Newsradio 950′s Ron Dewey has been on the street and on the air since 1998, as a street reporter and weekend anchor. Ron has been in the business for over 20 years in such exotic climes as the West Texas, Grand Rapids, Sault Ste. Marie and Port...